Allocations

Allowances up to $3,000 will be considered for qualified Protein Array and Analysis Core (PAAC) users for their cancer research projects on a competitive basis. These allowances will be used to help defray the costs of PAAC services including, but not limited to, SPR chips, protein domain microarrays, peptide synthesis, and bulk production of proteins for protein complex analysis by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR; Biacore; Peaq-ITC), Composition-Gradient Multi-Angle Static Light Scattering (CG-MALS; Calypso® II), and Size-Exclusion Chromatography coupled Multi-Angle Static Light Scattering (SEC-MALS; DAWN® HELEOS® II).

To be considered for an allowance, users are required to complete an application form that will require an abstract describing the current project that requires PAAC service, the expected number and kinds of arrays to be used, the type of biophysical analysis requested, and the source of funding. Drs. Bedford and Bratton will initially screen such requests for completeness and make recommendations to the PAAC oversight committee for approval.

Competitive allowances will be awarded on an ongoing basis (no established application deadlines) to meritorious projects on the basis of the following primary criteria:

The cancer research projects of major users of the facility

Other cancer research projects in their early development with competitiveness for external funding

Early career-stage investigators in cancer research in Texas

It is expected that qualified PAAC users will receive no more than one $3,000 allowance each year. Depending on availability of funds, exceptions may be made to young investigators and to established cancer researchers with exceptionally competitive projects. In the first year, 15 allowances will be awarded. These allowances will stimulate use of the core.

For all cancer-related research projects, qualified PAAC users will be charged a nominal service charge to cover the cost of consumables. This does not include service contracts and salaries for Drs. Bedford and Bratton and their technical staff, which are paid from this Core Facility Support grant. Non-cancer-related projects will be charged to recover consumables costs, plus that portion of service contracts for the equipment, and salaries that are not paid from this grant (estimated at 5%).